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Emily Davison: Votes for women's Derby Day 'martyr' | Emily Davison: Votes for women's Derby Day 'martyr' |
(about 17 hours later) | |
A crowd of more than 100,000 people were on Epsom Downs to see some of the finest racehorses in the world round Tattenham Corner in this year's Derby. | |
The horses thundered past a plaque commemorating the moment 100 years ago when suffragette Emily Wilding Davison ran on to the course and was knocked to the ground by King George V's colt Anmer. | |
Davison died from her injuries four days later in Epsom Cottage Hospital, and the suffragettes quickly established her as a martyr for votes for women. | Davison died from her injuries four days later in Epsom Cottage Hospital, and the suffragettes quickly established her as a martyr for votes for women. |
A stage-managed funeral procession in London attracted large numbers of spectators. | A stage-managed funeral procession in London attracted large numbers of spectators. |
But what drove this middle-class woman to such a desperate act and how should she be remembered today? | But what drove this middle-class woman to such a desperate act and how should she be remembered today? |
Dr Alex Windscheffel, a historian at Royal Holloway, University of London in Egham, Surrey, believes she was heavily influenced by her time as a student there. | Dr Alex Windscheffel, a historian at Royal Holloway, University of London in Egham, Surrey, believes she was heavily influenced by her time as a student there. |
Davison was one of the first to join the college, then for women only, at the age of 19 in 1892. | Davison was one of the first to join the college, then for women only, at the age of 19 in 1892. |
She studied French, German and English Literature but had to pull out a year later after the death of her retired merchant father. | She studied French, German and English Literature but had to pull out a year later after the death of her retired merchant father. |
He left too little money to pay the £20 a term fees and Emily became a governess to fund her continuing studies, eventually completing her degree in 1908. | He left too little money to pay the £20 a term fees and Emily became a governess to fund her continuing studies, eventually completing her degree in 1908. |
"It is pretty clear this is a very formative experience - she is very happy at Royal Holloway and very involved in student life," said Dr Windscheffel. | "It is pretty clear this is a very formative experience - she is very happy at Royal Holloway and very involved in student life," said Dr Windscheffel. |
"It shows that women need to be independent of men - that she needs to have a profession of her own." | "It shows that women need to be independent of men - that she needs to have a profession of her own." |
Although records from the time are sparse, Dr Windscheffel said it was believed Davison belonged to Royal Holloway's active suffrage society and debating society. | Although records from the time are sparse, Dr Windscheffel said it was believed Davison belonged to Royal Holloway's active suffrage society and debating society. |
Among her contemporaries at the college was Louisa Martindale whose mother, also Louisa, was a leading figure in the suffrage movement in Sussex. | Among her contemporaries at the college was Louisa Martindale whose mother, also Louisa, was a leading figure in the suffrage movement in Sussex. |
The younger Louisa became a pioneering gynaecologist who helped to found a hospital for women in Brighton. | The younger Louisa became a pioneering gynaecologist who helped to found a hospital for women in Brighton. |
"Louisa Martindale is a very significant figure in female health issues in the 20th Century and her mother was a very senior figure in the female suffrage movement," said Dr Windscheffel. | "Louisa Martindale is a very significant figure in female health issues in the 20th Century and her mother was a very senior figure in the female suffrage movement," said Dr Windscheffel. |
"It suggests that Emily Davison is moving in these circles and open to these influences." | "It suggests that Emily Davison is moving in these circles and open to these influences." |
Later, as a member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), Davison became a militant advocate of votes for women. | Later, as a member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), Davison became a militant advocate of votes for women. |
Her activities, including torching letterboxes, throwing stones and disrupting political meetings, led to her being jailed nine times and she was among suffragettes who were brutally force-fed in prison. | Her activities, including torching letterboxes, throwing stones and disrupting political meetings, led to her being jailed nine times and she was among suffragettes who were brutally force-fed in prison. |
Davison's intentions on 4 June, Derby Day 1913, remain unclear. No one knows whether she intended to kill herself for the cause or whether running on to the course was a publicity stunt. | Davison's intentions on 4 June, Derby Day 1913, remain unclear. No one knows whether she intended to kill herself for the cause or whether running on to the course was a publicity stunt. |
Either way, the suffragettes wanted to establish her as a martyr, according to Dr Windscheffel. | Either way, the suffragettes wanted to establish her as a martyr, according to Dr Windscheffel. |
"They are very keen on promoting Emily Wilding Davison as a highly educated, independent woman who has taken this action. | "They are very keen on promoting Emily Wilding Davison as a highly educated, independent woman who has taken this action. |
"It shows how desperate women have become for the vote and how cruel the State is in denying them." | "It shows how desperate women have become for the vote and how cruel the State is in denying them." |
But Davison's death confirmed many prejudices against granting women the vote and may have been counter-productive. | But Davison's death confirmed many prejudices against granting women the vote and may have been counter-productive. |
"There is not a lot of sympathy for her in the London press," said Dr Windscheffel. | "There is not a lot of sympathy for her in the London press," said Dr Windscheffel. |
"It tends to confirm suspicions that women are emotional, hysterical and don't think rationally. | "It tends to confirm suspicions that women are emotional, hysterical and don't think rationally. |
"The Queen, for instance - her first thought was for the jockey and she refers to her (Davison) as a 'horrid woman'. | "The Queen, for instance - her first thought was for the jockey and she refers to her (Davison) as a 'horrid woman'. |
"There's not much sense of sisterhood there." | "There's not much sense of sisterhood there." |
With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the campaign for votes for women became less militant. | With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the campaign for votes for women became less militant. |
The Pankhursts, the leaders of the WSPU, supported the British government during the war, promoting war work done by women as a sign that they were patriotic and capable of active citizenship. | The Pankhursts, the leaders of the WSPU, supported the British government during the war, promoting war work done by women as a sign that they were patriotic and capable of active citizenship. |
It was not until 1928 that women were eventually granted the vote on an equal basis with men. | It was not until 1928 that women were eventually granted the vote on an equal basis with men. |
But Emily Davison, the martyr for women's suffrage, was not forgotten. | But Emily Davison, the martyr for women's suffrage, was not forgotten. |
Dr Windscheffel said US civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr mentioned her name as an example of those who had fought for equality. | Dr Windscheffel said US civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr mentioned her name as an example of those who had fought for equality. |
"Her name gets picked up again in the 1970s, in the second wave of feminism," he said. | "Her name gets picked up again in the 1970s, in the second wave of feminism," he said. |
"People like Davison can be repackaged as those who lived life free from men and who put their cause before their personal safety. | "People like Davison can be repackaged as those who lived life free from men and who put their cause before their personal safety. |
"I think what we need to remember is the lengths which women 100 years ago were prepared to go to. | "I think what we need to remember is the lengths which women 100 years ago were prepared to go to. |
"I don't think she intended to kill herself, but she was clearly aware of the dangers so her personal safety was secondary to the cause. | "I don't think she intended to kill herself, but she was clearly aware of the dangers so her personal safety was secondary to the cause. |
"Her legacy to women today is as a reminder of the strength of feeling - of the acts these Edwardian women were prepared to carry out so women could be treated as full citizens economically and politically." | "Her legacy to women today is as a reminder of the strength of feeling - of the acts these Edwardian women were prepared to carry out so women could be treated as full citizens economically and politically." |
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